Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky gives a homily at a Mass at Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois. A bid for more than a decade to canonize the late archbishop, an Illinois native, has stalled indefinitely because the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Peoria continue to squabble over the disposition of the archbishop's remains. (2011 AP photo/Journal Star, Eve Edelheit, File)

The battle over the bishop’s body continues. A court in New York ruled last month that Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s closest surviving relative, his niece Joan Sheen Cunningham, could transfer her uncle’s body to Peoria, Illinois. The Diocese of Peoria, which prepared the cause for Sheen’s beatification, has declared that unless it gets the body of the late bishop, it will not permit the beatification to proceed. Sheen is currently buried in the crypt under the high altar in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and the trustees of St. Patrick’s have appealed the court ruling.

The facts are relatively straightforward: Archbishop Sheen, despite having been the bishop of Rochester, New York, where custom would have dictated that he be buried, asked to be buried in New York City. Upon his death in 1979, Cardinal Terrence Cooke decided to bury Sheen in St. Patrick’s. Peoria submits that Sheen, had he known that he would be beatified, would have wanted to be buried in Peoria, where the diocese has prepared a shrine for his body in the cathedral.

The Sheen family, in the person of Mrs. Cunningham, did not support moving the body from St. Patrick’s to Peoria until last summer. The reason for the change of mind? It is unknown, but given that she is 88 and Peoria refuses to let the cause proceed until it gets the body, it is not unreasonable to think that Mrs. Cunningham considered that if she wished to witness her uncle’s beatification before she dies, it would have to be on Peoria’s terms.

Having lost the first round in civil court, the trustees of St. Patrick’s have appealed the decision. They will argue that Sheen himself wanted to be buried in New York, and that his beatification is all the more reason to keep him there, given the vastly greater number of pilgrims who could pray at his tomb.

My own sense is that Sheen should stay in New York, as I wrote earlier this year. This latest court battle suggests some other observations.

First, Catholics who might be disappointed that Peoria has taken this matter into the civil courts should recall that “fighting” over the bodies of saints is a venerable Catholic tradition. In history, having the relics of saints was advantageous in the commerce of pilgrimage. Peoria has a rather different pecuniary perspective. The diocese is not looking to make money, but argues, not unreasonably, that it paid for the cause to proceed and, therefore, should get the shrine.

There is a reason why the head of St. Catherine is in Siena, while her body remains in Rome. Or that the arm of St. Francis Xavier is in Rome, while his body remains in Goa. The Solomonic solution of cutting the baby in half makes possible in death what is not in life.

Pilgrims in Assisi might wonder why St. Francis is buried under several tons of 13th-century concrete; it was to prevent his body from being stolen by neighboring towns. That Peoria went to court rather than broke into the crypt to grab the body is a sign of progress over the centuries. Grave-robbing in the service of Catholic piety is traditional, but not a venerable tradition.

Yet to have the battle for Sheen’s body in civil courts is not without problems. Civil courts rule according to civil laws. And the civil laws are drawn up with ordinary circumstances in mind, not the principles that are in play in a case like Fulton Sheen’s. No disrespect intended to Mrs. Cunningham, but there are many interested parties other than Sheen’s niece in the disposition of his body. Fulton Sheen himself entitled his book about the priesthood, The Priest Is Not His Own. He would likely agree that the bishop is not his niece’s.

Sheen’s cause illustrates a relatively new phenomenon in the Church — the role of the family in the case of recent blesseds and saints. When the old 50-year waiting period was in effect for causes to be introduced, it was quite likely that close family members were long dead by the time of a beatification, and so those who had the body could do as they thought best without other considerations being taken into account.

In the case of religious orders, it was even easier, as the vow of poverty indicated that the order was responsible for the livelihood of its members, including care of the body after death. With recent saints, especially priests who are not part of religious orders, and even more so in the case of lay saints, the matter is more complex.

Consider Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, who, after his beatification in 1990, was transferred to the cathedral in Turin, Italy. That was worked out with his surviving relatives, principally his niece, as he died before marrying.

When Gianna Beretta Molla was beatified and canonized, the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, expressed interest in having her remains moved to a church or shrine. Her surviving husband preferred that she remain buried with family members. In her case, the wishes of the widower won out, quite reasonably. A key difference is that St. Gianna was married with direct descendants. Blessed Pier Giorgio was not. A hundred years from now, perhaps the surviving descendants will no longer be able, or interested, in keeping a proper shrine at the family grave, and St. Gianna might be moved.

What, then, to do with Archbishop Sheen? If the appellate court were to insist that Sheen’s own express wishes be honored, then it would seem Sheen should be buried in a Catholic cemetery in the Archdiocese of New York. But nobody thinks that moving Sheen to an ordinary graveyard would be a good idea. So the court will have to evaluate the unusual circumstances with more imagination than is usually required in such cases. Courts, though, are ill-suited for imaginative solutions, which belong to the executive and legislative branches.

It would be best, of course, if the matter could be amicably solved by the parties involved, New York and Peoria. Failing that, it would seem that another venerable Catholic tradition will provide the solution — patience. Some problems are best solved by waiting, and disputes over the causes of saints are classic candidates for that.

Causes of saints can wait, and Sheen has not even been dead 40 years. By the 50th anniversary of his death — 2029 — there will likely be a new bishop in Peoria and new trustees for St. Patrick’s.

Where exactly the body of Fulton Sheen will finally rest is not clear today, though it would seem that the best argument is that he remain where he is, at St. Patrick’s, in the city he chose as his home. The permanent solution is already clear, even if getting there will require more time and creativity.

A future St. Fulton, patron saint of preachers, the media and media preachers, will rest in St. Patrick’s in a special shrine, most likely the Lady Chapel in the apse. There will be a secondary shrine, with relics, at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, near The Catholic University of America, where he taught for so long. And there will be the shrine in Peoria’s cathedral, also with relics, the diocese of his childhood and ordination. A Solomonic solution — currently opposed by all parties — will, in time, be achieved.

When? Both Sheen’s virtues and his miracle have already been approved, so we can confidently consider him in heaven. His intercession can be sought, as the resolution of his remains on earth might require another miracle still.

As a side note, many Catholics in this thread seem appalled by the practice of cutting up saints’ bodies into relics. Maybe someone with knowledge of how/why this happens can write a blog post about it? It may warrant more explanation.

Posted by Joanne S. on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 8:58 PM (EDT):

The first paragraph says it was Cunningham who brought the suit. “The battle over the bishop’s body continues. A court in New York ruled last month that Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s closest surviving relative, his niece Joan Sheen Cunningham, could transfer her uncle’s body to Peoria, Illinois. The Diocese of Peoria, which prepared the cause for Sheen’s beatification, has declared that unless it gets the body of the late bishop, it will not permit the beatification to proceed.” My reading of the article is that the neice sued, knowing that Peoria could not advance Sheen’s cause without the body.

Posted by W on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 2:55 PM (EDT):

Joanne S.:

If you read the article carefully, it says “First, Catholics who might be disappointed that Peoria has taken this matter into the civil courts ... ” and “That Peoria went to court . . .”

Posted by James on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 1:38 PM (EDT):

Joanne S., Venerable Pierre Toussaint (entombed in the Cathedral) and Venerable Mother Angeline Teresa, O.Carm., (buried in Germantown NY) the Servants of God Dorothy Day (buried on Staten Island) and Servant of God Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P, (Rose Hawthorne) have the honor to be native to the Archdiocese at their deaths, and have causes approved by the Archdiocese.
Seems their unwillingness to adopt Archbishop Sheen’s cause was the result of having too many saints in the Big Apple.
Who knew?

Posted by Joanne S. on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 1:21 PM (EDT):

Thank you, Cathy! Try as I might I couldn’t recall Cardinal John O’Connor’s name, despite going through the alphabet in my head and recalling that his was an Irish name, probably beginning with an “O.” Cardinal O’Connor was a wonderful archbishop who spoke out eloquently for the unborn. I pray his cause for sainthood moves forward along with Archbishop Sheen’s.

Posted by Joanne S. on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 1:16 PM (EDT):

If you read the article carefully, it clearly states that the petitioner in the court case was Sheen’s neice, not the diocese of Peoria. The article then goes on to explain the reason Sheen’s neice filed suit. Why the effort to “catch” the writer in an error?

Posted by W on Wednesday, Dec, 7, 2016 10:19 AM (EDT):

So far as I can tell (correct me if wrong), Peoria did not take the matter into civil court. If you look up the petition, it is styled “Joan Sheen Cunningham, Petitioner, against Trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Archdiocese of New York, Respondents.” Peoria is not a party to the action, unless I am missing something. Rather, it is Sheen’s family (Ms. Cunningham) that has taken the matter into civil court. The unpublished opinion is online.

Again, correct me if wrong, but a correction may be needed.

I’m an avid reader of the Register and Fr. de Souza, so keep up the good work.

Posted by Cathy on Tuesday, Dec, 6, 2016 11:12 PM (EDT):

Joanne S,the other is John Cardinal O’Conner

Posted by Will on Tuesday, Dec, 6, 2016 11:27 AM (EDT):

This whole thing is ghoulish. Let the man rest in peace. So far as Sainthood goes, let it drop. The process of Sainthood has become very politicized, and you wonder if we would be better off with a moratorium on it for a few years.

Posted by Joanne S. on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 11:59 PM (EDT):

Are there other saints buried in St. Patrick’s? Peoria may only have this one claim to a saint whereas New York has several, I believe. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t Cardinal Cooke up for canonization? Also, the cardinal archbishop of New York who started Priests for Life who used to be on EWTN a lot (forgot his name, but I think he preceded Egan). If New York didn’t want to take on the cost of Sheen’s cause because it already had these others, then it’s clearly only fair that Peoria get this cause to pursue.

Posted by James on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 8:57 PM (EDT):

Lizzy, if indeed what you write is true I thank you for going to the trouble of researching the facts. Father de Souza and the Register need to make some clarifications. This entire situation is a scandal and upsetting on a number of fronts, particularly in the current climate of ecclesiastics behaving pitifully and not upholding the teaching of the Magisterium but spinning, finagling, “pleading the fifth” and disparaging and threatening their confreres from positions of authority for which they are not suited.
Cardinal Dolan’s history leads me to give your contribution the benefit of belief and even before your comment I was of the firm belief this man needs to correct himself and make a public apology.

Posted by Lizzy on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 7:01 PM (EDT):

After fact checking this article there are quite a few mistakes. First Peoria is not taking anyone to court. Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s family took the Archdiocese of New York to court after Cardinal Dolan kept refusing to allow inspection of the body (which is the next canonical step in the cause) and refused to share the body in any way. You may remember from the beginning Cardinal Dolan said he wanted what the family wants - now he is fighting them in court, and he said he is just following New York state law - Now he refuses to follow a New York Supreme Court judges order? Also in Sheen’s will (which is public record) it says he purchased a plot in Calvary Cemetery. This was not to put a burden on his family in having to fly him home. Fulton Sheen’s niece gave permission to cardinal Cook to bury him in St. Patrick’s (not what the will stated) and now the same niece wants to send him to Peoria so the cause can move forward. It is not Peoria holding up the cause but Cardinal Dolan who refuses to let the next Canonical step happen. There are so many mistakes in this article I would suggest that Fr. DeSouza do more research before writing. All the court documents are public record. I encourage everyone to read what is really going on before commenting.

Posted by Bob Magill on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 3:45 PM (EDT):

A mediation really should have occurred here, without the involvement of state or canonical courts. People will be praying to Archbishop Sheen’s soul, not his body, wherever it ends up. There should be 2 shrines—one in NY and one in Peoria. The one that does not have his body (no dismemberment, please) should get some relics (cuts of hair or nails plus a set of his vestments). And NY should pay 1/2 the substantial costs that Peoria has undertaken for the beatification as well as contribute to the shrine in Peoria. If NY gets the body, it should contribute even more of the costs for the beatification and the Peoria shrine.

This whole controversy makes both sides look immature and not acting in love and not providing the example of unity that the world needs to see to know that the Father sent Jesus. Jesus commands twice as follows: John 15:12 “love one another” AND John 15:17 “love one another” AND also prays John 17:23 “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me…” How is the rest of the world going to hear the Gospel if two of its prominent expositors do not have love for one another and act in unity on something like this?

Posted by James on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 12:14 PM (EDT):

Sean, I agree, the Causes of the Saints is descending, along with an infinity of other aspects of the Church, into something it was not intended to be. But I would submit that Archbishop Sheen is one cause that is particularly worthy of pursuit. He was an incredible and prophetic individual.
As for the transferal of his remains, I submit once again, Peoria. That was the agreement of the Archdiocese with the Diocese of Peoria and it should be honored. Archbishop Sheens alleged desire for NYC—without doubt, from his current perspective, doesn’t matter to him but does for his home diocese who love him and take justified pride in him. They did the heavy lifting on the cause for beatification, and I am sure the Archbishop would be happy to take his rest in the heartland among those who loved him enough to do the work to acknowledge the work of God’s grace in Him
From God’s perspective we are all on the head of pin. What does a distance of a few microns make, but for those who love Archbishop Sheen, their native son.

Posted by Sean on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 7:43 AM (EDT):

May this blessed man rest in peace.

This saint-making factory/mill has got to slow way down. Like stop for, maybe, five years.
It is turning into a P/R assembly line. Enough already.

Posted by Matthew Dunn on Monday, Dec, 5, 2016 3:18 AM (EDT):

“How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones? Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you unqualified for the lowest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? Then why not everyday matters? If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters, do you seat as judges people of no standing in the church? I say this to shame you.

Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough to be able to settle a case between brothers? But rather brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers? Now indeed [then] it is, in any case, a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers.

Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (I Cor 6:1-9).

And, so it keeps on a-goin’ . . .

Posted by Patti Day on Sunday, Dec, 4, 2016 2:50 PM (EDT):

While I see why Peoria would want the burial site to be located there, the surviving family member was initially in favor of respecting the wishes of Archbishop Sheen to be buried in New York City. This civil battle makes the two dioceses look petty and mean spirited. Honor the request of the Archbishop. Let him rest in peace in New York City.

“I wish to be buried in the place where I die and to remain there until the Resurrection. I forbid that my body be transported elsewhere, that I be taken from the spot where the Good Lord has had me finish my pilgrimage.” -from the will of Blessed Charles de Foucauld (feast day December 1)

If The good Archbishop Sheen said New York maybe he was thinking like Blessed Charles de Foucauld.

Posted by James on Saturday, Dec, 3, 2016 2:07 PM (EDT):

What should be a moment of exaltation has been rendered a scandal by the behavior of the administration of the Archdiocese of New York.
Cardinal Egan on behalf of the Archdiocese promised the Diocese of Peoria the transfer of Archbishop Sheens remains, apparently having no interest in the Archdiocese pursuing the cause itself, while Peoria did very much.
“He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.” Luke 16:10
This is a matter of bad will and mendacity on the part of the current administration of the Archdiocese. Just because they say it isn’t so doesn’t make it any different. It is more than apparent that they are not the arbiters of truth or good will, in this circumstance and a number of others as well.
Also, it is time to do a catechesis on the significance of the relics of the saints for those who find this issue a joke. It is not a joke, any more than honesty between men is a joke.
The acrobatics around the truth going on in our Church has exceeded the bounds of good conscience. This situation is symptomatic of a grievous condition presently virulent in the extreme, and it does not serve the inhabitants of the ecclesiastical fraternity at all well.

Posted by Stephen on Saturday, Dec, 3, 2016 1:41 AM (EDT):

Peoria has taken up his cause while NY did not. Simple… his remains belong in Peoria.

Posted by C-Marie on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 10:51 PM (EDT):

Regarding any further canonizations, what is the need?? There are already more canonized saints than any one person can name. The point is that there is no need for canonization. Jesus taught we are to go to God the Father in Jesus’ Name.

The time and money spent on canonizations really, truly, ought to be spent on the needy and on evangelization.

Which is more important, absolutely proclaiming, for example, that St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is in Heaven for certain, or do you not think,that she would much rather have preferred that all of that money spent for her canonization had been spent on the needy she ministered to???

The good man is in heaven where he rests in peace. Let us strive to go there too!

Posted by William on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 7:20 PM (EDT):

Respectfully, the article misses the point. This is not about Archbishop Sheen’s remains but about his beautification/canonization. New York Archdiocese has not shown any interest in pursuing Sheen’s cause, so New York should give up his remains to Peoria, who have already begun beatification proceedings. This is not complicated.

Posted by Rod on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 6:58 PM (EDT):

I owe my awareness of the Faith to Fulton Sheen… as a youngster we had Life is worth living on TV and that was secular TV back in the day! He made me aware of the beauty of Holiness of the Christian Faith and the authority of the Roman Church. I was 6 or 7 at the time! I seemed to understand it! What sorrow it bring s that we fight over the body where the Vulture gather, when the beauty of Fr. Sheen’s holiness shine through! Just get on and do the deed. He lived a life in such litigious times, don’t make his Repose litigious as well!

Posted by Charles Eble on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 6:36 PM (EDT):

New York could have pursued Beatification of Bishop Sheen. Instead they deferred to Peoria and agreed to send the body to Peoria.

Then, they change Cardinals and changed their minds.

It is a question of whether their word is their bond . Apparently it isn’t.

Posted by Mary Ann on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 6:17 PM (EDT):

Thank you, Fr. de Souza, for this informative article. I have been wondering what the status was, and this is a complete answer. God only knows what will happen and when, but thank you for all of the possibilities.

Posted by Amy on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 5:12 PM (EDT):

@JimP “Scatter the ashes or divvy up the remains”? Seriously?

Posted by Rosemarie kury on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 4:50 PM (EDT):

I can see why Peoria wants his body as they’re the ones handling his canonization. This is a “Solomon” issue if there ever was one. Why can’t New York be satisfied with dome relics? After the caconization, perhaps his relics could be entombed somewhere there, or even better in a church dedicated to him, perhaps in the New York area.

But this whole thing seems silly fighting over a body. I’m sure there are many saints, especially martyrs, who died in the first centuries of the Church where relics let alone bodies are nowhere to be found. It would be interesting to know whether a person can be canonized if their body can’t be located?

It was my understanding that a persons life and writings were thoroughly studied for holiness, and then miracles. We’re relics used for intercession for Bishop Sheen for these miracles?

This whole thing just seems silly, as we have his writings and tv programs to read and watch now! Does every shrine need a relic or body? I can think of several I visited as a child (one to St.Anne, Mary’s mother, for example where relics wouldn’t be obtained. Surely a persons saintliness and holiness should be sufficient, and unless the body’s buried in a public cemetery, shouldn’t necessarily be moved.

Posted by gayle on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 4:49 PM (EDT):

I personally met FR Sheen and later Bishop Sheen, family were in St. Ignatius Parish in Rogers Park. He was a man of the people and spoke of God, to all. Know many who were not of Catholic Faith that heard him speak, on TV and radio. He called to all to know God and truly was a believer and had the ability to turn hearts to God. He is a man of all times, Saints really are not Saints of a particular place, Illinois be proud to house the remains of this Saint, but at the time of his death, designation at St. Patrick’s was his choice.
After visiting the burial places in Rome and Assisi, I was totally appalled and the beheading of my patron Saint, St. Catherine. I didn’t feel it was an honor for either Rome or Assisi.
When I was a school at St. Ignatius we were honored with the arm of St. Francis, I don’t think I’d ever forget it.
God shares His Saints with us.. we pray for their intercession in times of distress, although their moral remains maybe here or there.. they are men and women who are with us and bodies make very little difference.
In special memory of him, I’ll say prayers that he may rest in peace at St. Patrick’s. an old acquaintance and fellow follower of him. CAtherine Barrett Stone.

In my opinion, an important fact is not mentioned in this article: Why and how Peoria became responsible for Ven. Sheen’s Cause? It is a known fact that the Ordinary of New York, Cardinal Egan, refused the Cause when the Vatican Office for the Causes of the Saints offered it to NY. Reason? NY had many Causes in progress and could not afford another. Basically, the Ven. Sheen’s Cause became ignored by those who had the canonical rights to it. My source for this a former Vatican official and a one still there. When the Vatican contacted Card. Egan about the Cause, he refused. - That’s when Peoria came to the rescue of its native son where he was also ordained, making him canonically tied to Peoria. It would be interesting to know if Ven. Sheen became incardinated in the Archdiocese of NY. - Peoria worked steadily for 14 years, raising the huge amount of money necessary for the investigations etc. - Actually, from the information I have, the Bishop of Peoria discussed the matter with Cardinal Egan and it was agreed that Peoria would be given full rights, including the body of Ven. Sheen. It surprises me that a Cardinal would not respect the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ made between Peoria and New York.—To me, it seems like the ball was given to NY who dropped it and Peoria picked it up and ran for the home run.

Posted by Dan in indiana on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 3:51 PM (EDT):

I would definitely argue the comment that said more pilgrims would pray in New York should the body remain there, no substance. Plus, if more priests today subscribed to AB Sheen wrote in his “the priest is not his own”!, we would have a stronger Church!

Posted by Martin Soy on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 3:35 PM (EDT):

This is embarrassing. The 50 year rule should be reinstated.

Posted by Franklin P. Uroda on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 3:23 PM (EDT):

Whether I like this ghoulish affair or not, this is my Catholic Church. There are aspects, mostly cultural from Europe, that I don’t like. This is one of them.

Posted by C-Marie on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 2:48 PM (EDT):

Well written!!! As for removing parts of the body and placing them in different burial or display situations, much better, I think, that we stop all of the shrine business, and exercise our faith in Jesus’ promise of our resurrections. Would not this money being spent on these arguments be much more worthily used to assist the needy??? Our family has a first class relic of St. Therese of Lisieux, bone, hair… As a child it was amazing, but as an adult thinking about the dismembering of her is awful!!!

God bless, C-Marie

Posted by tom on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 2:43 PM (EDT):

The whole matter is unfortunate and embarrassing. Ven. Fulton Sheen and his niece most likely thought it was a great honor to be buried in the Crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1979. Why did the diocese of Peoria even start the process of canonization if having the body is paramount? The whole thing smells of simony, that means money to the uninitiated. The argument that had Sheen known of his future sainthood he would want to be in Peoria is complete nonsense, nobody can argue that he wanted to be in NY, as that request is in writing. On the other hand Dolan said he would abide by the court ruling. That he is not, should not surprise anyone in NY, who have already witnessed his wishy-washy ways, so much for integrity. Once again clerics have abandoned the true Faith and reduced the supernatural to purely material possession, and faithful priests & lay Catholics get to pay the price in a diminished world view of the Faith they love and many have died for. Is this the new evangelization we hear so much about? God help us!

Posted by JimP on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 2:33 PM (EDT):

Why not scatter the ashes over a number of burial spots, or at least divvy up the remains and give a few to any who can afford to pay for the beatification process.

Posted by James on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 2:31 PM (EDT):

Father de Sousa’s analysis is surely not without credence. Well put.
Nevertheless, it also leave ample room for another tact. I would submit that the agreement made by Cardinal Egan need be given its due. Archbishop Sheen surely did not regard himself as a target for the Congregation of Saints, and his personal humility would supersede any attachment he had to New York City (which I share). From the perspective of Almighty God we are all buried on the head of a pin. To give Peoria the remains of its saintly son is a small price to pay in lieu of the scandal – and I use that word with purpose – the Archdiocese has crafted. In a long line of events since 2009 the Archdiocese has provided a very disappointing profile. It does not serve itself well.
Cardinal Dolan – this time, let go and let God.
There are already some, and there will be, God willing, many saints to find a place at Saint Patrick Cathedral.
Peoria might just have this one, and what a one he was, raised to the altars of the multitude of its anonymous faithful gazing upon the Face of Almighty God.

Posted by Leon Keller on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 2:24 PM (EDT):

You must be kidding. How much is Cardinal Dolan paying you to write this nonsense?

Dear Father,I disagree with your opinion that the body of Sheen should remain in NY.I was in Rome for many years working in the Holy See and I recall when the question of the cause of Sheen came up, that Card. Egan was asked if he would accept the cause. He refused for certain reasons not pertinent. Subsequently Peioria took the cause, but with the understanding by gentelmen’s agreement between Egan and Peoria’s bishop that the body of Sheen would be transferred at the appropriate time to Peoria. I wonder why, if Gentlemen could respect their agreements, why can’t bishops??????????????

Posted by Richard Dunbar on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 1:40 PM (EDT):

This is ridiculous. If Bishop Sheen wanted to be buried in NY, that is where he should stay. I can’t believe grown adults can squabble over this.

Posted by Marcella Adamsson on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 1:21 PM (EDT):

“The Diocese of Peoria, which prepared the cause for Sheen’s beatification, has declared that unless it gets the body of the late bishop, it will not permit the beatification to proceed.” Who would think that anyone would want to stop a beatification, let alone, a Diocese? Catholicism at its finest! I think not. I am very proud to be a practising Catholic but at times like this I can only shake my head in disbelief. Please help me understand this situation.

Posted by Laura Zink on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 1:05 PM (EDT):

I think the good Archbishop is smiling with his twinkling eyes in heaven. :-)

BTW, I was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral just yesterday and paused in prayer (with so many others) before his crypt. How utterly fitting that he is so near to that Eucharistic chapel of Our Lady where he himself prayed! St. John Paul II (visiting St. Patrick’s) asked where the archbishop was….as our Holy Father wanted to embrace Sheen, who was in prayer in the chapel.

Perhaps the Cause for Sheen’s beatification should take note from Holy Scripture in which we are cautioned about going to court with one another.

If Cardinal Dolan hadn’t been such a “testa dura,” this matter would have never had to go to the civil courts.

If the case for beatification and canonization cannot go forward unless Archbishop Sheen’s body is returned to Peoria, then it would be criminal for New York to keep the body.

The court has spoken and ruled. Send the body to Peoria and get this off of “page one news” that the Catholic Church cannot work together for such a noble cause.

Posted by Amy on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 12:44 PM (EDT):

It seems to me that the Diocese of Peoria is not looking at this wisely. Bishop Sheen wanted to be buried in NY. To somehow state that had he known he would be beatified he would have decided on Peoria is without merit. What is the objective? To have Bishop Fulton Sheen beatified! Let his remains stay in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Note to Diocese of Peoria: Don’t allow pride to impede progress. “Using” Bishop Sheen’s niece to get the outcome the Diocese of Peoria desires,is very unsavory.

Posted by Bob Magill on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 12:36 PM (EDT):

Fr. de Souza is a fantastic writer. This article is a gem. Is he, by any chance, a lawyer? His dry humor and smooth summary of the legal proceedings suggest that either he is or has great familiarity with the law.

Thanks for this.

Bob Magill Jr.

Posted by Joanne S. on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 12:36 PM (EDT):

If the archdiocese of New York is appealing a court decision to move Sheen’s body to Peoria, wouldn’t the results of that appeal become known in a more reasonable time?

Posted by Donald Link on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 12:34 PM (EDT):

The whole thing should have been in a Church court to begin with. To allow the state any entry into the process sets a dangerous precedent. Separation of church and state works both ways, or at least it should.

Posted by Joel Fago on Friday, Dec, 2, 2016 12:21 PM (EDT):

The Vatican has made it known that Archbishop Sheen will not be canonized unless his body is moved to Peoria.ra

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